2005 vfr800 electrical issue won’t start

I was riding on the highway and she died on me. Wont start. Won’t even crank. Just a loud tik sound when I push to start. No FI light. Oil light is on, but oil level and quality is fine. All other lights work fine on the display. Fuse 30 seems fine, but that’s where the noise comes from. What could the issue be? 2005 vfr800 16k miles on it. Garage kept ran fine until now. Any questions or suggestions encouraged to help me fix this

 

Wondering if you have a starter relay issue, but shouldn't have failed at 16k... check the connections are clean?

 

Hi and Welcome to the MadHouse

I really hope for your sake it is as simple as a failing starter relay.

However 5th and 6th Gen VFRs have a desperate history of charging system failures which Honda only fixed in their 7th and 8th gen VFRs.

So what to do?

I suggest you find a multi-meter and check to see whether the battery is badly discharged - as that would mean there is simply not enough power left in it to turn the starter over (a few volts will be enough for a few lights on the dash) you need serious amps/volts to pressurise the fuel injection system (anything much below 12 volts will not cut it), and even more volts/amps to crank the bike over fast enough to start it.

When you turn the ignition to the ON position could you hear the fuel injection system prime?

Were there any other warning signs - like did the clock reset?

That click you hear when you press the starter button could be a relay playing up or could be the starter motor is just not getting enough power to turn.

So I suggest you get hold of a multimeter, remove the seat and check the battery volts. If you see 12.5+ volts then focus on the starter/relay - anything below 12 is almost certainly not going to start your bike. If it is not too low with luck the battery may be recovered with an overnight recharge.

If the battery is indeed drained then congratulations your post marks the start of the annual charging system failure season which kicks off every spring.

The following 21 page thread shows you are not alone - but I suggest you focus on the testing process described in post # 9. Post up again if you need help interpreting the results

https://vfrworld.com/threads/how-to-fix-common-regulator-stator-failures.39277/

Let us know how you get on and when you get time please swing by the introductions part of the forum to say Hi to the rest of the folks on here.

Take Care - ATGATT



SkiMad

 

Sounds as if your rr has failed and the subsequent loss of charge in the battery has caused bike to stop.

Check battery voltage and put on charge. Once started check the charging system.
Should be reading around 14.5v @ 5k revs with lights on main beam

 

Thanks for the replies you guys are awesome. It sounds spot on to my situation I’ve had a spare battery charged for things like this. I’m gonna check the things you said and I’ll update with my findings

 

The battery had lost charged. I charged the battery. Still same start response. When I turn the key I do hear the fuel system prime. The clock had not reset until I removed the battery. I still have the same click when I try to start and it seemed like it was coming from the 30A fuse area but neither of them look blown. Bike still won’t start.

 

Try bridging the starter relay to see if that does the job.

 

UPDATE- I had to take it to a shop cause I don’t know enough to work on it and they said the motor seized up due to what seems like an oil pressure issue. No way to tell exactly without taking the motor apart and no shop will do that since the bike is over 10 years old. Currently trying to sell/trade in for a new bike.

 

OUCH !!

didn't you see the low oil pressure warning light while riding ?

if the bike had any oil in the sump this is a very rare failure. when's the last time you checked the oil level or changed it and filter ?

since it's a very rare failure there has to be a sad story and mystery here somewhere.

 

I'm not there so I can't say for sure but that doesn't sound right.

If the motor seized up on you on the highway wouldn't it have locked the rear tire?

 

not quite correct. drain the oil to check for metal fragments, and cut open the oil filter also looking for metal. unless you were riding with the low oil pressure light on it's hard to understand what may have happened.

 

Ouch Indeed - obviously something unusual has caused the engine on this low mileage motorbike to seize and now presents the owner with a very unwelcome problem.

I fear your current bike is now of limited trade in value - but it is certainly worth haggling.

Also despite its age it is possible to replace a damaged engine, but even if the garage is willing to fit a used engine it will probably cost a lot more than buying an equivalent running used bike. I guess if the bike is at a Honda dealer then their workshop rates will be a major factor.

If however you are mechanically savvy and have access to tools I guess an engine swap is a plausible DIY challenge and probably the cheapest route to getting an operational bike albeit it will take time and effort. The big challenge will be to track down a breakers yard with serviceable engine ideally from the same manufacturing year but 2002-2005 engines should work.

As others have noted the circumstances surrounding this engine failure do seem incomplete.

Whilst brevity is welcome on most websites in this case the more you tell us the better we can understand what may have happened and offer sensible advice.

So what do we know?

As was noted in the first post the "oil light was on" when the bike shut itself down but apparently the oil level and quality was OK.

What is not clear is "when" that oil warning light came on and what if anything material had taken place recently - like the bike being recently serviced or indeed only just purchased?

Was the oil level confirmed after the bike shut itself down or was it checked earlier because the oil light was not going out when the bike was fired up, and then ignored on the assumption that the sensor or light was faulty.

One particulary confusing isssue is how an oil pressure issue could result in a drained battery?

Oil pressure in the 800 engine is generated by a mechanical pump driven by the engine which is not known for failures. The oil warning light should go out almost immediately the engine fires up. If it stays on it is a clear warning that something is amiss and it is not safe to ride the bike until the problem is identified and resolved.

Given the presence of ample oil in the sump I suspect that residual oil in the galleries provided enough lubrication to avoid an instant rear wheel lock up, but once the engine stalled, the residual heat in the engine would have seen components bind up at which point the extra metal on metal friction would have presented the starter motor with an impossible task - hence hearing the bike prime and a click rather than the engine actually turning over.

Hindsight is glorious but in this instance unhelpful.

As for diagnosis yes draining the oil and inspecting the filter for metal debris would potentially confirm the engine is dead, but as that investigation would add to the garage bill I am not sure I would pay for it to be done. Bit like paying for a second opinion on a corpse. At least the bike may have some residual value as a parts source especially items like fairing panels and luggage - so if they are in good condition expect at least a few hundred dollars trade in value.

I am sorry to say your wallet is going to take a hit.


SkiMad

 

Although I'm not there either, is it possible the oil pump drive chain broke?

 

final update- I appreciate all the input from you guys. I had checked the oil level and quality and it was fine. No issues there. I found a shop willing to look at it and they got it unstuck by running the wheel and now it starts but the oil light is still on and they said it’s not safe to ride. They said they would have to open Im the motor up to see what the real issue is and they won’t take that on. It seemed that something with the oil pressure went wrong and might have been what seized the engine. The rear tire did not lock up so I am curious as well as to why but at this point even paying them they won’t work on it so I had no option but to trade in as is and get a new bike. The vfr will eventually be fixed and have a new life and I can get transportation again. I don’t own a car and I love commuting on the vfr so naturally I got another Honda. 2021 CBR600RR. I will miss my vfr but I will cherish the memories. If you guys have any more questions or comments I’ll still try to answer best I can. But the trade and purchase is made.

 

Thanks for the update - I would have made the same call.

I am impressed you managed to snag a new baby blade. Over in Europe Motor Cycle News reported last year that it would not be coming to Europe as it could not meet the latest emission regs. From pictures at the time it certainly looked a real fun bike - so I hope it serves you well.

Take Care


SkiMad

 

They are still on sale in the states.